Pair of players with local ties hope to hear their names called

PHILADELPHIA — Barring a late trade, the Flyers will have the 17th pick in the first round when they host the 2014 NHL Draft Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center.

With that pick, the Flyers might have not one but two players with local ties available when they make their decision.

While one of those players now lives in Kuopio, Finland and is the top-rated European skater, according to the Central Scouting Service, there is no doubt where his hockey roots are.

And Anthony DeAngelo’s father Lou will tell you that his son’s demeanor is as South Philly as Vince Papale or Rocky Balboa.

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Kasperi Kapanen, whose father Sami Kapanen played for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Flyers before returning to Finland, grew up in Shamong in Burlington County and lived in the United State until he was 12.

DeAngelo, who played locally with the Mercer Chiefs, Little Flyers and Westchester Express before heading to Canada to play for the OHL’s Sarnia Express, grew up a lifelong Flyers fan.

Both admit that, while they will be happy wherever they eventually wind up, playing for their “hometown team” would be special.

“It’s awesome,” said DeAngelo, when asked about the draft being held in Philadelphia. “I grew up 10 minutes from where the Flyers play right over the Walt Whitman Bridge. This week’s going to be awesome. I’ve been a huge Philly sports fan my whole life. I was a big Eagles fan, a big Flyers fan, Sixers, every team. So it’s pretty cool to have it here.”

Kapanen, though he made his pro hockey debut last year in Finland and skated on the same team as his father, KalPa Kuopio, as a 17-year-old rookie this past winter, has spent most of his life in the United States.

While his father was playing for the Flyers, he played for the Junior Flyers, the Phantoms, and Team Comcast before returning to Finland.

“I think I see Philadelphia and the States as my home,” said the younger Kapanen. “I lived here for 12 years and I’ve only lived six in Finland. I consider this my home. It’s been nice to be here this whole summer. I’ve been training really hard with my dad and just seeing friends and going to places that you went to about six years back. It’s been really nice.”

DeAngelo, ranked 14th amongst North American skaters by CS, is as skilled as any defenseman in the draft and is an offensive force on the blueline but has drawn questions due to his lack of size and a pair of suspensions he received playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting.

“The suspension was a mistake that I made so I’ve got to take responsibility for that and learn from that and hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” said DeAngelo.

A player who wears his heart on his sleeve, he is every bit the stereotypical Philadelphia sports fan — with one caveat of course.

“I was a huge Flyers fan growing up. I’m a diehard,” said the Sewell native. “Nothing against the Flyers but I’m a huge fan today up until tomorrow. If I don’t get drafted by the Flyers, I’ll instantly become a big fan of another hockey team.”

Kapanen is the first of several sons of former Flyers who got their start playing in the local youth hockey leagues and are now working their way up the ranks. Players with names like Briere, Primeau, Timonen, and Hatcher are among the top prospects in the Atlantic District.

“It’s fun. If you play with the fathers it’s nice to follow up with the boys to see how they’re doing,” said Sami Kapanen. “Glen Wesley’s son he’s in the draft, Josh. There’s a lot of players and I think in the upcoming years there will be more and more young players that are the sons of the former NHL players. I think it is creating excitement around the game.”

And if DeAngelo and Kapanen are available when it’s the Flyers turn to make their pick that should be exciting, too.